How to Stop Worrying: 3 Powerful Ways to Find Peace

Worry loves to fight in my brain the first moment of the day. I’ve spent years learning how to stop worrying. If the outside world is bright, my brain rings with peace. But if circumstances are scary, my brain goes off like a bobcat in a hen house!

Reading the obituary of a good friend reminded me how suddenly life can change.

John Pitman was diagnosed with glioblastoma. He died 14 months later at 68.

Jeffrey Weiss, a business reporter for the Dallas Morning News, died of the same disease.

He documented his diagnosis and treatment in his newspaper columns.

One of Jeff’s final columns made me wonder how he faced the fear of dying.

1. How to Stop Worrying About What You Cannot Control

Weiss turned to an unlikely source for strength.

“Do not worry at being worried; but accept worry peacefully.  Difficult but not impossible.”
— Attributed to John Chapman (Johnny Appleseed)

Accept worry peacefully.  I like that.  But how?

The Stoics believed it’s reasonable to accept worrisome events calmly.

“Nothing else is the cause of anxiety or loss of tranquility except our own opinion.”
— Epictetus

But I wonder if self-discipline calms the worry of a life-altering medical diagnosis.

I don’t know many folks who conjure up that kind of calm.  Do you?

2. Release Your Worries Through Prayer

Learning how to stop worrying begins with surrendering what we cannot control.

Several years ago, my friend Alex Yarto and I were walking out of Highland Park Presbyterian Church after a men’s Bible study. The church doors opened to a beautiful, sunny day when an SUV pulled right in front of us.

The passenger window rolled down, and a young woman, tears streaming down her face, said, “I need help.”

Startled, we said, “Go park right in that space and meet us on the bench by the door.”

She walked over and sat between us, crying.

After sitting with her in silence for several minutes, we asked how we could help.

“I wanted to take my life this morning, but a voice told me to drive to this church.”

After a few moments of silence, I opened Psalm 40:1-3 and prayed those exact words out loud.

After more silence, she felt better, and we gave her our contacts and the church’s.

3. Discover God’s Power in Prayer

No wonder Bono wrote a song from these verses and called it “40,” which U2 performed before millions around the world at the end of their concerts.

Prayer means releasing control to God.

“Pray as you can and do not try to pray as you can’t.”
— Dom John Chapman

The Bible offers many images of the Almighty responding to our cries for help.

Psalm 63 depicts David holding on to God in desperation, and God responding with stability.

^“On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.  My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.”
— Ps 63:6-8

Another image in Psalm 40 is my favorite because, even though we don’t know the final outcome, it shows God’s faithfulness.

“I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet upon a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.”
— Ps 40:1-3

When Prayer Connects to Power

Your frightening circumstances may not disappear.

But if you call out to him, God will hold you through them.

He’ll stabilize you. He’ll put a new song in your mouth.

What have you learned about releasing worry through prayer?

Stories like this are part of the reflections I write about living fully, finding joy, and making life count, which you can explore on my About Stephen Blaising page.

Originally published in August 2017. Substantially revised and updated in October 2026. Original reader comments have been preserved.